Permanent snapshots

When one considers the extensive portfolio of the image service providers (finishers), photo postcards are in first place in terms of quantity, followed by photo posters, photo calendars and photo enlargements, for example, on sandwich panel. The Photo Industry Association (PIV), industry sponsor of photokina, forecasts more than 270 million Euro in sales for Germany in 2017. Photo enlargements are in first place in terms of value, followed by photo calendars, photo postcards, photo gifts and photo posters.

The variety of possibilities for the physical issue of images has a positive influence on the market development, supported by the increasing familiarity of the print service providers and the market penetration of their products. With the constantly growing mountains of images of every photography fan, the issuing of images also further increases. The improving quality of smartphone photos is also having a positive effect on the development of the market. An ever increasing number of photographs fulfils the issuing criteria making it possible to use them for photo books and photo calendars, photo greeting cards or as photo enlargements. With special apps, the providers have not only mobile solutions at the ready, but also stationary, user-friendly Internet portals, with which designing and ordering becomes child's play.
Refreshing for the market are also trends such as home decoration and DIY (Do It Yourself). Photographs stand for individuality here. Another point is the archiving of the digital image data inventory when this is issued on paper, and in this case especially in self-designed photo albums. These outlast their digital counterparts, the life spans of which are limited to five to thirty years.
At photokina 2018, CEWE, one of Europe's most successful finishing companies will exhibit, among others.